His conscience told him to stop the murder of innocent civilians. His orders told him to do nothing.

The Iraqi Republican Guard made quick work of a small rebel village, but Washington had declared the conflict over. And Washington is never wrong. Soldier Peter Ford bit his tongue until it bled, standing by and watching men commit horrific acts before his eyes.

Now, four years later, Peter Ford is no longer a soldier-and his former superior officer is no longer alive. Roberto Garza's murder has helped convince him that not even Washington can tell him right from wrong. And sifting through the cutthroat secrets of postwar Iraq, Ford decides to hunt down the men responsible-and find out the truth for himself.

• intelligencefictionmilitary